France F3 Mediterranean Socio-economic Profile


1 France : F3
1.1 Overview

The area defined as France 3 includes Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte dŽAzur, Corsica, Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. In 1997  the fleet in the France F3 area consisted of 1,900 vessels with a total of  170,055 KW. 86% of these vessels were under 12 m in length.. 86% of the vessels were 10 years or older. The majority of fleet landings are in Hérault . The landings consist mainly of tuna, sardine and anchovies.

Processing in France is split into "Mareyage" primary processing and ' l'industrie de la transformation' secondary processing. The value of the fish processing sector in 1997 was 130,054,744 ECU.

In 1997 the output from marine aquaculture was 25,240 tonnes and had a value of 49,148,595 ECU

There is no inland aquaculture recorded in the area.

There is no data regarding inland fishing in the area.

1.2 Coastal Fishing Employment

The 3,634 persons employed by the fishing sector represented 2,490 FTEs (being 0.7 full time equivalent to each job).  In total 58% of fishers worked more that 6 months of the year.  The Sètoise fleet accounts for 40 % of the total fishers  (1,456) but this represents 44% (1,105 FTEs) of all the FTEs.  This is explained by the make up of the Sètoise fleet: there are a large number of fishers employed on trawlers and tuna boats who work over 6 months a year  (70%). By contrast Port Vendres, is marked by the proportion of fishers who fish on a part time basis and whilst there are a total of 570 fishers this represents only 337 FTEs persons employed.

1.3 Processing Employment

There are more than 1,000 people   (1,044 total persons employed)  employed in this sector.  A quarter of those employed are women working in secretarial, accountant, commerce and management roles.   Of the 14 % of the total number of persons employed which are part time, the majority are employed on a seasonal basis rather than on a part time basis throughout the year, with 90% of enterprises recording a growth in their activity during holiday and festive seasons.

The secondary processing sector in the French Mediterranean employs 596 people (516 FTEs). The quarter of Martigues in the NUTS 3 region of Bouche du Rhône has the greatest number of processing persons employed with 153 persons employed, the quarter of Hérault in the NUTS 3 region of Sète follows closely in terms of employment numbers with 148 persons employed.    At the other end of the scale Bastia in Haute Corse has 11 persons employed and Ajaccio in Corse du Sud has 4 processing persons employed.

Again activity in the processing sector is seasonal, peaking over the festive and holiday seasons.   Those regions producing fish soup have an increase in activity between October and March, whilst the quarter of Martigues in Bouche de Rhône has a high proportion of seasonal workers involved in the production of anchovy products. Only in the filleting sector is there a predominant female workforce comprising 56% of this sector.

1.4 Auction Employment

The principal points of  landing are situated in the major fishing ports of Port Vendres, Sète and Port de Bouc. 70 % of production by volume and a little less than half of production by value are moved through auctions.  There are 80 persons employed in this sector.  

1.5 Vessel Construction and Repair Employment

Ship building enterprises were surveyed by telephone.  Of the 19 enterprises identified as being involved in fishing vessel construction, 12 responded  (63% rate or return).  It is estimated that there are a total of 89 persons employed (65 FTE) in the construction sector,  91 % of persons employed are men.

The employment in vessel repairs and maintenance were estimated from cost structures of the different segments.
Overall the sector provides almost 200 persons employed  (152 FTEs)
Other upstream activities include supply of fuel oil, supply of lubricants, marine engine production and supply of small parts for repair and maintenance. Total employment in Sète was 10 persons.

1.6 Marine Aquaculture Employment

The Mediterranean aquaculture sector generated employment for 2,381 people (1,665 FTEs).  
The main locations for aquaculture persons employed was in the Séte quartier  where 2,000 persons are employed in the conchyliculture sector, which produces a total of 2,209 persons employed in the F3 region. There is a high degree of dual activity in this shellfishing sector almost half the persons involved are part time  (2,209 fishers representing 1,495 FTEs) and many companies are run as small family enterprises.  A third of those involved in shell fishing are women.
There are 170 people employed by the fish aquaculture sector producing mainly seabass and bream.  The pattern of employment in this sector is considerably different with 167 out the total of 170 in full time employment.  The main centre for aquaculture is in Bastia, Haute Corse  where there are 51 persons employed (50 FTEs).